Nature heals us, soothes us, and restores well-being in our lives. We are animals after all and the environments we are exposed to are directly linked with how we feel. When I think of my favorite places in nature I often think of those awe-inspiring, jaw dropping, picture worthy spots – a sunset on the ocean, the grandiose mountains near Seattle, an endless field of sunflowers. The fact that these places exist naturally on our planet is a miracle, but they can be harder and expensive to get to, so they’re not accessible daily. When I think about how I spent time in nature as a child, it wasn’t about the exceptional nature spaces or about the intensity of the activity. It was about how it made me feel to get outside everyday. It was about how it was impossible to feel bored in the outdoors.
When you think about getting outdoors everyday you might picture people who spend their days hiking, surfing, or skiing and think of these as the only ways to be in nature, I think we can rethink this together. A walk outdoors, even in a city, is still time spent outdoors in nature and it can still heal you, soothe you and make you feel well. Studies show that even a plant inside a hospital room with a recovering patient can speed up the healing process. So, surely a moment spent gazing up to the trees can offer many of nature’s greatest benefits. Here are a few ways to live mindfully by spending time outdoors, no grand plans necessary:
Notice the small things
Those high expectations about how we should be spending time outdoors can not only stop us from ever getting into nature, but they may also be getting in the way of more mindfulness. We often think we need to have nature’s peak experiences (climbing a mountain or a multi-day camping excursion) to receive the benefits and connection with our Earth. The truth is, noticing the small, yet amazing, things in nature is a powerful mindfulness practice of its own. I recently heard a professor interviewed about his practice of asking his students if they saw anything beautiful on their way to class each day. He explained that it was not only a way to express gratitude and acknowledge that there are things around us in our daily lives that are beautiful, but it also required bravery from the students to share. When you acknowledge and accept that there are beautiful things on Earth, you are allowing yourself to soften. Showing this softness to someone else, or just acknowledging it yourself, requires bravery and vulnerability in a world where we are often encouraged to harden up.
Don’t overthink it
Think back to a moment spent in nature as a child. Maybe you remember a vacation to an amazing outdoor space that took your breath away, but chances are you remember the outdoor space where you spent the most time – maybe a park, a playground or a backyard. Maybe you think of a favorite tree in your neighborhood or the joy of finding a roly-poly bug under a rock. As a child, you weren’t worried about if you were ‘outdoorsy’ enough to enjoy it. You don’t have to look or even feel the part to enjoy nature. You deserve outdoor space and time in nature just simply because you are human. And, you need it. You don’t need the outdoor gear or expensive experiences to connect to Earth. You just need to be somewhere without a roof over your head. Go outside, look for something that you remember as a child – a worm, tree bark, a dandelion, and then spend a moment appreciating it.
Close your eyes, open your other senses
Are you outside yet? Once there, enjoying your simple (and amazing) nature experience, close your eyes. It will immediately open your other senses. Turn your attention to what you hear, what you smell, what you feel and even what you taste. Fresh air will feel different on your skin and taste different on your tongue. By closing your eyes, you’ll let your other senses bask in the joy of being in nature. The view will still be there when you open them back up.
Want help making the time to get outdoors? Want nature to learn more about how nature can, well naturally, heal us. I coach clients on how to make outdoor time a part of daily life. My wellness plans always incorporate nature time and it always helps my clients achieve their wellness goals.
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